Kraft makes sustainable cocoa commitment

Kraft Foods has said that its premium Cote d’Or chocolate brand will convert to the use of sustainable cocoa beans.

Beginning in France and Belgium, Cote d’Or dark chocolate will contain cocoa sourced from farms that meet Rainforest Alliance sustainability standards. This programme will then be rolled out in the UK, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States.

The brand will be the “first mainstream chocolate” to carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, the US food giant claimed today (29 October).

Additionally, in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, Kraft’s Marabou brand will convert to sustainable cocoa, while in Austria and Switzerland the Suchard brand will use Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.

By 2012, Kraft said that it would use certified cocoa in the production of its entire Cote d’Or and Marabou ranges, increasing the amount of sustainable cocoa it purchases ten-fold to 30,000 tonnes.

Source: http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2009/10/30/kraft-makes-sustainable-cocoa-commitment.html

Fairtrade products manufacturer Max Havelaar sees sales growth in Belgium

In Belgium Max Havelaar sold over 20 per cent more of its fairtrade products compared to a year earlier. Although the sales in fairtrade products have increased, the sales growth was smaller than last year, last year the turnover increased with 30 per cent.

The two most known Max Havelaar products, bananas and coffee, saw their sales increase with 7 per cent in the first half year of 2009. The sales of rice increased with 5 per cent. The sales of fairtrade juices increased with 13 per cent, wine with 20 per cent. The highest growth rate saw the biscuits and chocolate, from these products they sold over 40 per cent extra.

Source : Food Holland

Starbucks Europe will only offer Fair Trade coffee

Starting March 2010 all the espresso coffee offered in the European Starbucks-establishements will be guaranteed Fairtrade. All cappuccino, mokka and other espresso products will than have a certificate that they are 100% Fairtrade and manufactured below the Starbucks Shared Planet norms and standards.

Starbucks already was the biggest purchaser of Fairtrade coffee and the step up to Fairtrade Certified espresso coffee in Europe supports the total amount of 2,8 million euro for the smaller coffee farmers.

The news was announced at the International Fairtrade Conference in Berlin. The announcement is in line with the long term coorperation between Starbucks and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). It is a next step on the way to sustainability and the double of the purchasing of Starbucks Fairtrade coffee up to 18 million kilo by the end of 2009. Earlier this month Starbucks started with selling Fairtrade-espresso in her British and Irish establishements.

Albert Heijn Pure and Honoust assortment of FairTrade products

Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn, market leader in The Netherlands, launched an own premium brand range of “Pure and Honoust” products. (In Dutch: Puur & Eerlijk). Products have been cultivated, manufactured and purchased with respect to the people, animals, nature and environment.

Albert Heijn Puur & Eerlijk Sustainable Categories

The Albert Heijn Puur & Eerlijk range consists of five categories. These five categories are: AH Puur & Eerlijk biological food, fairtrade, sustainable fishing, free-range animals and ecological products. All the product groups are grouped under one brand name and one type of, environmental-friendly, packaging. The sustainability of the AH Puur & Eerlijk products are guaranteed by independent external organizations.

Fairtrade: Honoust Price

The Max Havelaar Certificate, which can be found at all the AH Pure&Honoust fairtrade products, guarantees that farmers in third world countries have good working conditions and have good access to the Western markets. This means they get honoust prices for their products. Currently there are 23 countries working with the Max Havelaar certificate. There is an increasing group of Fairtrade-certified product groups like coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, flowers and cotton.

What does the Max Havelaar Certificate mean?

The Max Havelaar certificate for fairtrade guarantees that the farmer obtains an honoust price for its products. This means that small farmers and their family can work for a better future. Fairtrade only works with small farmers, united in democratic farmer organizations. The farmers together are stronger and are able to better negotiate, furthermore they can get purchasing discounts, can obtain credits, improve their techniques by sharing knowledge and work on social facilities.

The development premium that farmers receive from Max Havelaar is given as social (economical) project. These type of projects take care of better living and working circunstances. The farmers can deal with their own situation. Fairtrade also wants them to take care of sustainable environment, there are strong rules for water, air, garbage, biodiversity etc. This will lead to further improvement and sometimes to a biological certificate.

More information on Max Havelaar.

Source pictures and text: www.albertheijn.nl

British Fair Trade Consumer Research

Despite the tough economic conditions at home, new research from Britain shows shoppers are showing increasing concern over the welfare of people producing their food and groceries in developing countries.

The study from international food and grocery expert IGD discovered that more than half (52%) of shoppers feel that the pay and conditions of people producing their groceries in poorer countries is an important consideration, while an additional third (34%) would like these workers to enjoy good conditions even if they don’t normally think about it.

Results of this IGD research are published in an article on the website Australian Food News. Click here to read the rest of the results on the British Fair Trade Research.

Cadbury´introducing international FairTrade Certification

Cadbury´s the UK confectioner advised that they will launch their Fairtrade cerfication on their Dairy Milk international, in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This Fairtrade dairy Milk has been succesfully launched in Great Britain and Ireland earlier this year.

Furthermore they are planning to certificate their Dairy Milk chocolate with the Fairtrade certificate.

For more information on the international fairtrade plans take a look here.

Understanding Fair Trade - Examples and best practises

Consumer Confidence – Understanding Fair Trade

The website EcoXOXO.com is a website specialized in green retailing, green products and eco-fashion. They offer innovative products, made of recycled, sustainable and renewable materials. The production methods of these clothes, the welness of the employees and the environmental effect of the production are key factors for this company. Green products are offered from non-biodegrable materials.

The section of Fair Trade shows the selection of the fair trade companies and the effect of selecting these companies.

The selection of the fair trade companies is very strict. Fair trade rules are a way of ensuring that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect. And, that they provide equal opportunities for all people, including advancement, and the right to organize. It ensures that honoust prices are calculated and that wages be fair in the local context. Also, the companies must be open to public accountability to ensure that national health, safety, and wage laws be upheld. And finally, that products be environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources. It is important that you purchase products from underdeveloped nations whose counterparts abide by these practices. Otherwise, the impoverished remain powerless.

At their website in the section Fair Trade you can some selection of their fair trade projects and the story about these projects.

Fair Trade Guidelines: http://www.ecoxoxo.com/Fair_Trade.htm